State v. Rhines, 548 N.W.2d 415 (S.D. 1995)

Cases | State v. Rhines, 548 N.W.2d 415 (S.D. 1995) | 2018

The defendant was convicted of third-degree burglary and first-degree murder, and sentenced to death. On appeal, the defendant claimed that the trial court committed reversible error by admitting victim impact testimony by the victim’s mother during the penalty phase of trial. The supreme court held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the victim impact testimony. The testimony was the type of evidence permitted in federal case precedent in that it related the victim’s personal characteristics and emotional impact of the crimes on the family. Further, the information was relevant to the jury’s sentencing decision and the probative value was not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.